Jack (1996)

Director:

Francis Ford Coppola

Writers (WGA):

James DeMonaco (written by) &
Gary Nadeau (written by)

Release Date:

9 August 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Jack Powell is about to tackle his biggest adventure ever... the fifth grade!

Plot:

Because of an unusual aging disorder that has aged him four times faster than a normal human being, a boy enters the fifth grade for the first time with the appearance of a 40 year old man.

Plot Keywords:

Aging Disorder | Heart Attack | One Word Title | Premature Aging | Handicap

Awards:

5 nominations

Cast

Robin Williams	...	Jack Charles Powell
Diane Lane	...	Karen Powell
Brian Kerwin	...	Brian Powell
Jennifer Lopez	...	Miss Marquez
Bill Cosby	...	Lawrence Woodruff
Fran Drescher	...	Dolores 'D.D.' Durante
Adam Zolotin	...	Louis 'Louie' Durante
Todd Bosley	...	Eddie
Seth Smith	...	John-John
Mario Yedidia	...	George
Jeremy Lelliott	...	Johnny Duffer
Jurnee Smollett	...	Phoebe
Dani Faith	...	Jane
Hugo Hernandez	...	Victor
Rickey D'Shon Collins	...	Eric

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sexual references.

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate no. 34700) | Iceland:L | South Korea:All | Brazil:10 | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:6 (w) | Netherlands:AL | Peru:PT | Portugal:M/6 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Mare Island, Vallejo, California, USA

Company:

American Zoetrope

Trivia:

Tom Hanks was the original choice for the lead role because of his performance in Big (1988).

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: Jack ages at four times the standard rate and has always been this way. This doesn't necessarily mean that all his metabolic functions have been so accelerated, so, for example, it's OK if his beard doesn't grow at four times the standard rate.

Quotes:

Jack: He had the sqirts. He had Diarrhea.
Dolores: Oh boy. Well, that was more than I needed to know.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Early Edition: The Choice (#1.2)" (1996)

Soundtrack:

Button Up Your Overcoat

One of those rare movies with a real message

This movie has something very important attached to it: a message of life. This is due to the underlying themes as well as to Robin Williams' touching performance which is saddening and inspirational at the same time. He is able to transform the sheer hopelessness of his fate which subjects him to an early death with such outstanding and sincere skills that are deeply moving. Apart from that his entire character - as it is designed - demands substantial acting throughout the whole plot. He delivers a performance that many other actors would simply not have been able to accomplish. It takes a special kind of actor to portray such a character just as Jack here. The message is that despite a fate that destines us to be exposed to tremendous agonies and blank despair, there is always a light of hope, and this light burns in our hearts. It's up to us only what we do with the time that we're granted with. In Jack's case time is even more precious than for normal people. Despite the sadness and despair that is ultimately caused thereby, we still have the chance to make the best out of every minute. All we have to do is value the little things, such as friendship and love, and thus escape the shades of darkness. The movie itself is funny and sincere, it has important dialogues and, as stated above, a real massage, which makes it special. Watch out for it.